Healthy Aging & Alzheimer's Research Care - HAARC Center

08/22/2025

Thrilled to share that three of our Healthy Aging & Alzheimer's Research Care Center colleagues were honored last night at the Inaugural Neurology Departmental Awards Ceremony. University of Chicago Department of Neurology

Rebecca Devine was honored with the Daniel Persky Award for Staff Leadership for her incredible dedication and impact.
Adam Martersteck and Emily Rogalski received the Excellence in Research award, celebrating their outstanding contributions to advancing knowledge in the field.

Rebecca, Adam, and Emily your hard work, passion, and leadership inspire us all!

08/21/2025

Happy National Senior Citizens Day! Today we're giving a big shoutout to the older adults who keep our communities strong, curious, and full of life. Whether it's through sharing stories, wisdom, or just great company - seniors make every day brighter!

Who is a senior in your life that inspires you with how they age? Let us know in the comments!

08/18/2025

The Chicago Public Library Hall Branch now offers free Memory Kits—curated collections for people living with dementia and their care partners.

Each kit is themed around music or nature and includes books, activities, and sensory items to spark conversation, creativity, and joy. Check one out with your library card for a 3-week loan and make meaningful moments together: https://www.chipublib.org/news/check-out-memory-kits-at-hall-branch/

08/15/2025

We’re walking for awareness, for research, and for every person impacted by Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer's Association Illinois Chapter

Join the UChicago Medicine Walk Team at the Chicagoland Walk to End Alzheimer’s on Saturday, October 4 in Lincoln Park. The event opens at 8:00 a.m., and every step helps move research and care forward.

Walk with us or support the team here:
https://act.alz.org/site/TR/Walk2025/IL-Illinois?team_id=935660&pg=team&fr_id=18567

08/13/2025

Last week, HAARC joined our partners at Rush University Medical Center Center of Excellence in HIV and Aging (CEDHA) for the "Healthier You, Healthier Us" community health fair at the West Englewood Library. Chicago Public Library

We were proud to connect with community members and share resources alongside organizations offering health screenings, school supplies, and more. Thank you to Rush, University of Illinois Chicago COIP, and the Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center for hosting this impactful event!

08/11/2025

We’re proud to celebrate a strong showing at this year’s Alzheimer’s Association International Conference ! Alzheimer's Association

From the pre-conference events through the final sessions, HAARC was well represented across presentations, panels, and posters. Dr. Emily Rogalski and Dr. Ana Capuano joined a panel and Q&A during ISTAART PIA Day, sharing their expertise on Nonpharmacological Interventions. Dr. Angela Roberts also presented as part of "AAIC for All", highlighting our commitment to inclusive, translational science.

Our team presented posters on key topics including SuperAging Research Initiative, Recruitment & Engagement, Neuroimaging, Dementia Care Interventions, and the Communication Bridge program. Special shoutout to Ollie Fegter for winning Best Pre-conference Poster, and to our HAARC-affiliated postdoc from the University of Michigan, who delivered a Lightning Round talk on psychological well-being in SuperAgers.

We’re energized by the innovation and collaboration at and remain committed to advancing aging and dementia research.

08/08/2025

This past Saturday, the HAARC Center co-hosted the Hall Library Community Health Fair with the Chicago Public Library Hall Branch, National Kidney Foundation of Illinois, UChicago Medicine Oral Health, and the Comprehensive Care Project.

We hosted a SuperAging Panel featuring Ambassadors sharing insights on longevity and brain health, made new Dementia Friends in , and shared resources on Alzheimer’s, dementia, and healthy aging. Thanks to the Kidney Foundation for providing free health risk assessments!

Proud to bring free, accessible health services in Dementia Friendly Bronzeville.

08/07/2025

Join us tomorrow for Healthier You, Healthier Us, a community health fair hosted by our partners at Rush’s Center of Excellence in HIV and Aging (CEDHA)! Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center

📅 Friday, August 8
🕚 11AM – 2PM
📍 West Englewood Library | 1725 W 63rd St, Chicago

HAARC is excited to attend and support this incredible event featuring free dental and health screenings, school supplies, food, a bounce house, and more!

08/06/2025

The HAARC Center was proud to join UCM Urban Health Initiativeand the SHARE Network at the The Black Women's Expo at McCormick Place! We connected with attendees to share valuable information on healthy aging, Alzheimer’s, and dementia, while celebrating 30 years of BWE empowering and uplifting Black women.

07/28/2025

Our very own Phyllis Timpo was interviewed at to share her poster about how we integrate community engagement into our work here at the HAARC Center, as well as highlighting some of our amazing partners that make this work possible. Alzheimer's Association

Check it out!

Phyllis Timpo from the University of Chicago takes the Dementia Researcher - Research in a Short Challenge presenting her work on strategies for enga...

07/28/2025

Join us in congratulating our very own Ollie Fetger!

She won an award for her poster at Alzheimer's Association for, "Usage and Feasibility of the Web Applications in Speech-Language Therapy: Insights from the Communication Bridge 2 Trial for Primary Progressive Aphasia (PPA)".

07/28/2025

Can AI detect early signs of brain aging?

Researchers at the University of Chicago’s HAARC Center are testing just that — using brain scans from 100 SuperAgers (ages 80+) to see how well artificial intelligence can spot subtle signs of decline.

These subtle signs, called white matter hyperintensities, appear as “bright spots” on MRI scans and may indicate vascular risk. Five AI tools went head-to-head. The winner? A program called ANTsX came out on top for accuracy.

Why it matters: Faster, more reliable scan readings could help doctors catch issues earlier — keeping more brains healthy, longer.

See the full study at our poster: “Expert evaluation of deep learning approaches to white matter hyperintensity segmentation in older adults.” Alzheimer's Association